Communication System and Master Communication Device and Slave Communication Device

This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 113137513 filed on Oct. 1, 2024 the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The invention relates to a communication system, and more particularly, it relates to a communication system and its master communication device and slave communication device.

In the fields of VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality), relative devices usually need to communicate wirelessly with other devices. However, in general, these wireless communications tend to have problems with not being synchronized between devices. Accordingly, there is a need to propose a novel solution for solving the problems of the prior art.

In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a communication system for communication through a human body. The communication system includes a master communication device and a slave communication device. The master communication device includes a first signal generator, a second signal generator, a signal combiner, and a transmitting HBC (Human Body Communication) electrode. The first signal generator generates a first signal. The second signal generator generates a second signal. The signal combiner combines the first signal with the second signal, so as to generate a third signal. The transmitting HBC electrode transmits the third signal through the human body. The slave communication device includes a receiving HBC electrode, a signal splitter, a processor, and an injection-locked DCO (Digital Control Oscillator). The receiving HBC electrode receives a mix signal from the human body. The mix signal is related to the third signal. The signal splitter divides the mix signal into a data signal and a synchronization signal. The processor processes the data signal. The injection-locked DCO performs a time synchronization process according to the synchronization signal.

In some embodiments, the master communication device is implemented with an HMD (Head Mounted Display).

In some embodiments, the slave communication device is implemented with a tracker or a controller.

In some embodiments, the time synchronization process is used to synchronize the master communication device and the slave communication device.

In some embodiments, the first signal comprises data information.

In some embodiments, the second signal comprises synchronization information.

In some embodiments, both the first signal and the data signal fall within a first frequency band from 2 MHz to 80 MHz.

In some embodiments, both the second signal and the synchronization signal fall within a second frequency band from 80 MHz to 102 MHz.

In some embodiments, the synchronization signal is a pulse signal.

In some embodiments, the synchronization signal is a CW (Continuous Wave) signal.

In another exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a master communication device that includes a first signal generator, a second signal generator, a signal combiner, and a transmitting HBC electrode. The first signal generator generates a first signal. The second signal generator generates a second signal. The signal combiner combines the first signal with the second signal, so as to generate a third signal. The transmitting HBC electrode transmits the third signal.

In another exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a slave communication device that includes a receiving HBC electrode, a signal splitter, a processor, and an injection-locked DCO. The receiving HBC electrode receives a mix signal. The signal splitter divides the mix signal into a data signal and a synchronization signal. The processor processes the data signal. The injection-locked DCO performs a time synchronization process according to the synchronization signal.

In order to illustrate the foregoing and other purposes, features and advantages of the invention, the embodiments and figures of the invention will be described in detail as follows.

Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ”. The term “substantially” means the value is within an acceptable error range. One skilled in the art can solve the technical problem within a predetermined error range and achieve the proposed technical performance. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the subject matter provided. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

1 FIG. 1 FIG. 100 100 100 200 300 200 300 300 200 200 is a diagram of a communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention. For example, the communication systemmay be applied to the relative fields of VR (Virtual Reality) or AR (Augmented Reality), but it is not limited thereto. As shown in, the communication systemincludes a master communication deviceand a slave communication device. The master communication devicecan communicate with the slave communication devicethrough a human body HB. The slave communication devicecan be substantially controlled by the master communication device. It should be noted that the term “human body HB” refers to a portion of the body of the user, which does not belong to any element of the communication system.

200 210 220 230 250 200 1 FIG. The master communication deviceincludes a first signal generator, a second signal generator, a signal combiner, and a transmitting HBC (Human Body Communication) electrode. It should be understood that the master communication devicemay further include other components, such as a display device and a power supply module, although they are not displayed in.

210 1 1 220 2 2 1 2 2 1 The first signal generatorcan generate a first signal S. For example, the first signal Smay include data information IA, but it is not limited thereto. The second signal generatorcan generate a second signal S. For example, the second signal Smay include synchronization information IB, but it is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the first signal Sand the second signal Shave different frequencies. For example, the frequency of the second signal Smay be higher than that of the first signal S.

230 210 220 230 1 2 3 250 250 230 250 3 The signal combinerhas a first input terminal coupled to the first signal generator, a second input terminal coupled to the second signal generator, and an output terminal. The signal combinercan combine the first signal Swith the second signal S, so as to generate a third signal S. The transmitting HBC electrodemay be disposed on any position of the human body HB. The transmitting HBC electrodeis coupled to the output terminal of the signal combiner. In addition, the transmitting HBC electrodecan transmit the third signal Sthrough the human body HB.

300 310 320 330 350 300 1 FIG. The slave communication deviceincludes a receiving HBC electrode, a signal splitter, a processor, and an injection-locked DCO (Digital Control Oscillator). It should be understood that the slave communication devicemay further include other components, such as an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) and a battery module, although they are not displayed in.

310 250 310 3 3 The receiving HBC electrodeis disposed on another position of the human body HB, and it may be different from the position where the transmitting HBC electrodeis located. The receiving HBC electrodecan receive a mix signal SX from the human body HB. The mix signal SX is related to the third signal Sas mentioned above. For example, the mix signal SX is substantially equivalent to the third signal Sminus the signal attenuation caused by an HBC mechanism, but it is not limited thereto.

320 310 320 320 The signal splitterhas an input terminal coupled to the receiving HBC electrode, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The signal splittercan divide the mix signal SX into a data signal SD and a synchronization signal SS. In some embodiments, the data signal SD and the synchronization signal SS have different frequencies. For example, the frequency of the synchronization signal SS may be higher than that of the data signal SD. In some embodiments, the signal splitterincludes an LPF (Low-Pass Filter) and an HPF (High-Pass Filter) (not shown). The LPF can generate the data signal SD according to the mix signal SX. The HPF can generate the synchronization signal SS according to the mix signal SX.

330 320 330 350 320 350 200 300 300 200 The processoris coupled to the first output terminal of the signal splitter. The processorcan process the data signal SD. The injection-locked DCOis coupled to the second output terminal of the signal splitter. The injected-locked DCOcan perform a time synchronization process PY according to the synchronization signal SS. In some embodiments, the time synchronization process PY is used to synchronize the master communication deviceand the slave communication device. For example, by using the time synchronization process PY, the time parameter setting of the slave communication devicemay completely follow the time parameter setting of the master communication device, but they are not limited thereto.

100 100 100 With the design of the invention, the communication systemcan process the data signal SD and the synchronization signal SS based on the HBC mechanism at the same time. According to practical measurements, the proposed communication systemcan significantly suppress a variety of relative signal interferences, so as to effectively maximize the operational benefits of the time synchronization process PY of the communication system.

100 The following embodiments will introduce different configurations and detail structural features of the communication system. It should be understood that these figures and descriptions are merely exemplary, rather than limitations of the invention.

2 FIG. 2 FIG. 100 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 is a diagram of the operational frequency of the communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment of, both the first signal Sand the data signal SD fall within a first frequency band FB, and both the second signal Sand the synchronization signal SS fall within a second frequency band FB. The second frequency band FBis higher than the first frequency band FB. For example, the first frequency band FBmay be from 2 MHz to 80 MHz, and the second frequency band FBmay be from 80 MHz to 102 MHz, but they are not limited thereto. With such a design, the second signal Sdoes not tend to interfere with the first signal S, and the synchronization signal SS does not tend to interfere with the data signal SD, either.

3 FIG.A 3 FIG.A 1 2 100 is a diagram of the waveform of the synchronization signal SS according to an embodiment of the invention, where the horizontal axis represents the time(s), and the vertical axis represents the voltage level (V). In the embodiment of, the synchronization signal SS is a pulse signal, and it includes a plurality of pulse groups which are periodically generated. For example, in the synchronization signal SS, the duration time Tof each pulse may be from 4.9 ns to 12.5 ns (which correspond to 102 MHz and 80 MHz, respectively). In some embodiments, to ensure the synchronization effect, the total number of pulse groups is less than 10, and the time interval Tbetween any two adjacent pulse groups is shorter than 10 seconds. According to practical measurements, such an application of the pulse signal can help to reduce the synchronization error of the communication system.

3 FIG.B 3 FIG.B 100 is a diagram of the waveform of the synchronization signal SS according to another embodiment of the invention, where the horizontal axis represents the time(s), and the vertical axis represents the voltage level (V). In the embodiment of, the synchronization signal SS is a CW (Continuous Wave) signal, which has a relatively narrow frequency range. According to practical measurements, such an application of the CW signal can help to reduce the circuit complexity of the communication system.

4 FIG. 4 FIG. 1 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 1 FIG. 400 400 410 420 430 440 450 460 470 490 490 410 420 430 440 450 460 470 410 420 430 440 450 460 470 410 420 430 440 450 460 470 400 100 is a diagram of a communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention.is similar to. In the embodiment of, the communication systemincludes a plurality of slave communication devices,,,,,and, and a master communication device. For example, the master communication devicemay be implemented with an HMD (Head Mounted Display). The slave communication devices,,,,,andmay be disposed on different positions of the human body HB. For example, each of the slave communication devicesandmay be implemented with a controller, which may be disposed on a hand of the huma body HB. Furthermore, each of the slave communication devices,,,andmay be implemented with a tracker, which may be disposed on a waist or a leg of the huma body HB. In some embodiments, the aforementioned controller and tracks are configured to detect the movement or the rotation of the human body HB, and they are all controlled by the HMD. In alternative embodiments, the total number of slave communication devices,,,,,andand their types are adjustable according to different requirements. Other features of the communication systemofare similar to those of the communication systemof. Thus, the two embodiments can achieve similar levels of performance.

5 FIG. 5 FIG. 500 500 200 500 is a diagram of a master communication deviceaccording to an embodiment of the invention. The master communication devicemay have the same structure as that of the aforementioned master communication device. In the embodiment of, the master communication deviceis used independently, and it does not involve any slave communication device.

6 FIG. 6 FIG. 600 600 300 600 is a diagram of a slave communication deviceaccording to an embodiment of the invention. The slave communication devicemay have the same structure as that of the aforementioned slave communication device. In the embodiment of, the slave communication deviceis used independently, and it does not involve any master communication device.

The invention proposes a novel communication system, a novel master communication device, and a novel slave communication device. In comparison to the conventional design, the invention has at least the advantages of suppressing the signal interference and improving the time synchronization. Therefore, the invention is suitable for application in a variety of devices.

1 6 FIGS.- 1 6 FIGS.- Note that the above element parameters are not limitations of the invention. A designer can fine-tune these setting values according to different requirements. It should be understood that the communication system, the master communication device, and the slave communication device of the invention are not limited to the configurations of. The invention may include any one or more features of any one or more embodiments of. In other words, not all of the features displayed in the figures should be implemented in the communication system, the master communication device, and the slave communication device of the invention.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the invention. It is intended that the standard and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.